Best Couple Activities at Queen Victoria Market
Melbourne has no shortage of fun things to do for couples, but few are as affordable and distinctly local as a few hours at Queen Victoria Market in the Melbourne CBD. Between guided tours, a coffee crawl and 600-plus stalls to browse, Queen Victoria Market covers everything from free couple activities to a full day out.
1. Take a guided tour together
If you’re new to Melbourne, the Ultimate Foodie Tour is the easiest way in: a fun, two-hour guided walk through the Market’s heritage-listed halls, with your guide leading you from stall to stall and generous tastings along the way. You’ll finish with a market shopping bag to take home. It runs Thursday to Sunday from 10am. The market offers a variety of guided experiences starting from $35 per person, and it’s a relaxed way to learn the Market’s history and find your new favourite traders side by side.
2. Go on a coffee crawl and morning breakfast date
This is for you coffee enthusiasts! Queen Victoria Market is one of the best places to get your caffeine fix in an iconic setting. Start with a specialty coffee at Market Lane Coffee or Cafe Gilli , pick up a classic market bite like a sizzling bratwurst or a fresh, flaky borek. Then queue at the American Doughnut Kitchen on Queen Street, a Market institution that’s been frying the same hot jam doughnuts since the 1950s. To enjoy a relaxed sit-down brew and pastries, explore Cafe Victoria and Supersede Coffee on Elizabeth Street or Publique Bakery and Passages Coffee on Victoria Street. It makes for a perfect morning itinerary before the Market gets busy, slow coffee, something sweet, and a wander through the halls together.
3. Browse 600-plus stalls and make it a treasure hunt
Treasure-hunting couples, take note: beyond the food halls, Queen Victoria Market’s heritage-listed sheds hold more than 600 traders selling clothing, art, homewares, jewelleries and souvenirs, perfect for couples who’d rather hunt through a market than a shopping centre. Set a small budget each and turn it into a game: who can find the best buy for under $20? It costs nothing to look, and Shop by Trader is a good place to scope out the stalls before you arrive.
4. Shop for dinner and cook it together
What’s more romantic than shopping for fresh ingredients and cooking together?
Wander past the fishmongers, butchers, bakers and delis, pick up a fresh bunch of flowers, grab a bottle from the Beer, Wine & Spirits stalls, and cook dinner together at home.
Not sure what to make? We got you. QVM’s Seasonal Recipe Generator can point you towards a recipe before you shop. It’s one of the cheapest, most personal couple activities Melbourne has to offer, and a chill night in with good food and wine makes for memories a restaurant booking cannot match.
5. Take a free heritage walk
History-loving couples will want to slow down here: officially opened on 20 March 1878 and added to the National Heritage List, Queen Victoria Market is one of Melbourne’s oldest landmarks, spread across two city blocks. Spend ten minutes spotting the original facades and the heritage laneways, or go looking for the Market’s five worm farms, part of a sustainability program that turns food waste from the stalls into fertilizer for the Market’s own gardens. It’s a free, low-key way to wind down together, whether that’s before your tour or as a quiet finish after lunch.
6. Events & Festivals at Queen Victoria Market
There’s always something on at Queen Victoria Market. The event calendar rotates through food festivals like the Melbourne Donut Festival, Swap Meet, cultural celebrations such as Pinoy Octoberfest and the Cachivaches Latin Market, and quirky one-offs like the Melbourne Record Fair and the various vintage and craft markets.
They’re genuinely cultured, entertainment-packed line-up year-round. Check What’s On to see what’s coming up before you plan your visit. It’s an easy way to turn a regular trip to the Market into something memorable with your special someone.
Plan your visit
Queen Victoria Market is on the corner of Peel, Franklin, Victoria and Elizabeth Streets, in the Melbourne CBD, within the free tram zone (routes 19, 57, 58 and 59) and a short walk from Melbourne Central, Flagstaff and State Library stations.
If you’re driving, there’s secure on-site parking in the Multi-Level Undercover Car Park (open 24/7) or the Open Air Car Park just off Queen Street, so you won’t be circling the block for a spot. See Parking for car park rates, Visit Us for full trading hours.
